Are you interested in becoming a volunteer instructor for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF)? Through LDWF’s Aquatic Volunteer Instructor Program (Aquatic VIP), you can learn not only the basics of fishing, but also how to teach those skills to get younger generations hooked on fishing too! The workshops offered through this program are perfect for teachers, Scout leaders, homeschoolers, and anyone who enjoys fishing and the outdoors!
At this hands-on workshop led by LDWF biologists, you’ll receive the training you need to become a volunteer instructor, an invaluable ally in LDWF’s efforts to increase fishing participation and wise utilization of natural resources across Louisiana. Topics and activities include knot tying, casting skills, basic fishing techniques, proper fish identification, fisheries management and more. A binder full of lesson plans and activity guides for grades K-12, as well as educational materials, will be given to all volunteers who attend the workshop.
After completing the 8-hour workshop and passing a background check, volunteers are able to borrow equipment to help teach these topics to others. For example, if you’ve always wanted to host your own fishing clinic for youth, but didn’t have the materials and resources to run one, then this is your solution! We can provide fishing rods with basic tackle, a knot tying kit, art and crafts activities and more.
This summer, LDWF will be hosting two free* Aquatic VIP workshops in Baton Rouge. The first will be Wednesday, May 16th , and is open to all. The second will be a teachers-only workshop on Saturday, June 16th . The teacher's workshop will focus more heavily on the lesson plans and how to incorporate fishing and fisheries management into the classroom.
For any questions about the Aquatic Volunteer Instructor Program, contact Alayna McGarry at (504)286-4050 or at amcgarry@wlf.la.gov.
If you aren’t from Baton Rouge but have a group of people who are interested in taking this training together, please contact Alayna McGarry at 504-286-4050 or at amcgarry@wlf.la.gov. We may be able to come to your area and set up a private workshop for you and your group!
*A $25 registration fee is required to reserve your spot. This fee will be returned upon your arrival at the workshop.
LDWF’s Aquatic Volunteer Instructor Program is hosted in conjunction with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation. The LWFF was formed to provide a means for individuals and corporations to become partners with the Department and Commission in the challenge of conserving Louisiana’s wildlife and fisheries resources.
The Fisheries Extension Outreach Program fosters responsible, licensed anglers by organizing community fishing events and developing opportunities for anglers to participate in the conservation of Louisiana’s aquatic resources. The program promotes awareness of the Sport Fish Restoration Program, which utilizes angler support to help ensure the future of recreational fishing in Louisiana for generations to come.
The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana’s abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.facebook.com/ldwffb or follow us on Twitter @LDWF.